Any clever ideas for mounting a new double-DIN stereo?

[wrybread]

I finally pulled the proverbial trigger on a new stereo for my S70, and I have to say it sounds a whole lot better than my old trusty sc-815. As I expected the tuner was a bit better in the sc-815, but other than that the new one is a big upgrade.

For folks who are curious, I got an Atoto S8 Standard, which was about $300 shipped. It's an Android head unit, meaning not just Android Auto or Apple Car Play, but it actually runs Android. Not for people who don't like to tinker with computers for sure, it takes a lot of configuring to dial it in. But once dialed it does it's thing very well.

But I don't really like it's mounting system. Here's a crappy picture of how it wants to be mounted:

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Note the two brackets. That works, and holds it tightly in place just with friction (meaning no need to screw into the dash), but those brackets are pretty heinous. I plan to paint them, possibly with Plasti-Dip, but I'd rather not have the visible brackets to begin with.

I was thinking of attempting to shim the stereo in there on the left and right, but it's a touchscreen so would be hard to get it tight enough to resist movement when pecked.

I was also semi contemplating removing the panel so I can install it from the rear of the stereo, does that panel remove somewhat easily?

Or any other ideas for how to mount an aftermarket double-DIN stereo?

And on a sidenote, I'm working on a faceplate built from the carcass of my old sc-815 to keep the crackheads off my new stereo... It's currently held in place with tape (soon to be replaced by magnets), but if I ditch the brackets it fits in the opening perfectly.

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[BEJinFbk]

Did the new HU not arrive with a mounting sleeve and a trim ring?

[wrybread]

> Did the new HU not arrive with a mounting sleeve and a trim ring?

It came with a tiny trim ring (if that's what this was, just a thin rectangular bracket). But now that I look at other installs I'm obviously doing something wrong, since no one else has those brackets outside the stereo pocket. Hmm.

This video shows removing the trim to install the stereo. Is that possible / relatively easy with an S70?

[MoVolvos]

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Hard to tell from the picture how you intend to finally have it sit in the opening. If inset and you can have it stabilized through the back then just look for something flexible like this with a different design / angle that would cover the gap / opening. Not perfect by any means but can buy you some time while you come up with something better.

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Q8 ... TTDI&psc=1

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[wrybread]

> Hard to tell from the picture how you intend to finally have it sit in the opening.

I like it aimed up a little, making it a bit easier to see since the S70's stereo position is pretty low for a touchscreen. So not flush mounted. Another reason I'd like it inset a bit is to allow room for the fake cassette faceplate for when I"m parked in the city.

[MoVolvos]

> Hard to tell from the picture how you intend to finally have it sit in the opening.

Another reason I'd like it inset a bit is to allow room for the fake cassette faceplate for when I"m parked in the city.

I use to work in the Bay View Hunters Point area of SF near, back in the day Candle Stick Park of the 49ers. Use to pull our ash trays out so no one will break in to find out what was inside. One time one driver forgot to take the delivery vehicle home and the next day there was a huge rock next to the driver's door. The nice stereo system along with the custom box speakers behind the seats were gone. Worst of it was the guy couldn't throw that rock and damage the door . Know all about that kind of stuff.

The worst time was one of the coworker chase after a guy trying to break into his car and as he rounded to corner the getaway driver was coming after him. He had to jump on his car from getting hit. Glad didn't have to work in that area for long.

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[wrybread]

Ha funny. I'm in SF too, and the last thing I'll ever do is pay for parking, so Carlo spends long nights under a freeway overpass with lots of homeless encampments nearby. So far I've been incredibly lucky and haven't even seen a break-in of any of the regularly parked cars there, just to the occasional tourist vehicle, and even then I've only seen maybe maybe 5 broken windows in 10 years there. In the Before Times (pre-covid) when parking was getting scarce even under that freeway overpass I would occasionally sprinkle a little broken car window glass on the sidewalk to make it look like there were lots of break-ins and scare people away, ha. But luckily I ran out of glass and gave that up. Not a factor anymore, there's all the parking you can eat, as long as you don't have anything of interest visible in the car. Knock on wood trim.

[MoVolvos]

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Are you sleeping under the freeway? Friend's son use to work in Fremont so sleeps in parking lots and only goes back to Tracy on the weekends. Manage to find places to clean up during the week.

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[MoVolvos]

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Put a plate down to rest the unit on top then create stops so you can push it back to as far as you want that to go. Next just use the suggested trim to wedge the sides to keep it stable. Still need to bolt it down for safety God forbid if you are in an accident and it gets catapulted out of the dash .

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[wrybread]

> Are you sleeping under the freeway?

No, Carlo is the name of my S70. In other words it's my car who sleeps under the freeway, not me. And the homeless camps sort of come and go. I should mount a timelapse dashcam so I see all the crazy things that must happen around my car at night.

Good point about adding some rock solid anchoring in case of a crash.

And good idea about the plate.